The Waiting Game

Well I haven't been very good at keeping up this blog lately. I'll chalk it up to being just a tad preoccupied waiting for the arrival of our first baby. I'm due in just 2 days! I bet I'll go a few days over though, which is fine with me since I think I've had a really easy pregnancy compared to so many people. I just don't want to be induced!

We have the hospital bags packed and ready in the car, and the car seat is installed and ready for action. The camera is in the house, since I don't want the battery to freeze and die on us. I'll be really miffed if we forget it in the excitement though!

My Dr. said she's not concerned about anything so we have not had any other ultrasound since the 20 week one. As a result we still aren't entirely sure if we're having a little boy or a little girl. As long as he or she is a healthy little munchkin I don't really care either way, it just means we have at least one outfit on hand that will not be used for this baby. I'll try to hold off on scaring my child for life for at least a little bit. No little boys in pink floral onsies in this house!

Today is one of the few days since I started maternity leave on the 16th that I have not had to go anywhere for any reason. It's been really nice, and to be honest I've spent most of the day curled up with a book I won at ladies night at the bookstore. It's called "The Mother in Me" and I've been crying over it most of the morning. Perhaps it doesn't take much to make a 9 months pregnant woman cry, but it's really good and I recommend it to anyone who's ever been or will ever be a mom. I bet you'll cry too!

To conclude this post I'll add perhaps the last preggo picture I'll get around to putting on here. People keep telling me I'm "so tiny". That may be so, but it's the biggest I've ever been!

Our Crazy Summer

Well we got possession of our own home on June 30th and moved in on July 1st. We love our home so much and have been enjoying setting things up. There is still a lot to organize since many things were just kind of thrown into a closet in no particular order just to get them out of the way, but things are really comming together. I HAD to get the main floor whipped into shape since I hosted a bridal shower for Cathy on Saturday. We had a blast even though there weren't many of us since everyone is away on vacation. 'Tis the season!

It has been a really busy summer for us this year with the move, starting to get things ready for the baby, and helping Cathy organize her wedding. I'm looking forward to a little down time at the cabin just relaxing with family. After that things pick up again though. We'll be camping for a few days with Kevin's parents, painting the nursery, Kevin has to go to fort Mac for school for a few days, and then I'm in Cathy's wedding party which is the same weekend that nearly everyone I know is getting married including my cousin. It's a busy time, that's for sure, and it's going so fast. I feel like I'm running out of time to prepare for the baby. Once all the craziness in August is over, we'll only have about 2 months to get everything ready! Where did the time go?

Here is my latest belly shot, taken a couple of days after we moved in. I'm getting a bit bigger and finally had to break down and buy some more maternity clothing. Baby has gotten very wiggly, which I find extremely entertaining :-)

The 20 Week Ultrasound

This morning we got up nice and early so I could drink a bunch of water and we could drive in to Calgary for our Ultrasound appointment at 7:45 am. It's interesting that they scheduled the appointment for then considering they don't actually open until 8 am... At least I only had to drink 2 cups this time which was a lot more bearable than the 5 I had to drink for the dating ultrasound. Anyway, we were very happy to see that our little one is doing just fine with a nice strong hearbeat at 150bpm and all the limbs and organs a baby should have. Unfortunately we couldn't get a good look down below and the ultrasound tech had a terrible time trying to get a picture of the tailbone area because our stubborn little munchkin was settled right down in my pelvis and was far too comfy to be bothered to move. Eventually the perinatologist was able to get the last couple of pictures they needed. The tech said her educated guess was that we are having a baby boy but she's only 75% sure. I think she must have been basing this on the way the hips and pelvis are since the baby didn't seem to want to give us a show. So based on that we will have to work a bit harder on figuring out a boy name or two, but I'm not running out to buy a bunch of little boy clothes. If my doctor decides to send me for another ultrasound after 30 weeks they might be able to get a better look, but if not, we will have a slight mystery until the baby actually arrives. Here are some of my favourite pictures from this morning's event:

We bought a house :-)

I'm very pleased to report that we have bought our first home! I'd post a picture but they took it off MLS before I thought to save one. I guess we'll have to take our own pictures once we move in. We are staying in Airdrie and even get to stay in the same ward. We did consider moving back to Calgary but, for the price we paid, we would have had to settle for something at least 30 years old (needing lots of work) with huge condo fees and not in any neighborhoods we like. The one we found will be just perfect for us and we could happily fit two or three munchkins (when we DO decide to have more kids) without feeling imprisoned in our home. I love the fact that it's only 2 years old, has a nice big kitchen (to store tupperware in, of course) and backs onto a nice soccar field instead of a road. Plus we'll be SOOOOOOOOO excited to set up a room for the baby, whom my brother has named "Guillermo". I told him there's no way the baby will keep that name once he or she is born, especially if it's a girl, but for now it IS kind of cute.

Speaking of baby, I'm starting to have a little preggo tummy! Here's a picture Kevin took of me at the beginning of May:

I'm a bit bigger now, but you get the picture. I'm 17.5 weeks along now and I can hardly wait until we go for the ultrasound in mid June. Hopefully we'll be able to get some cute pictures from that one!

2nd Trimester, here we come!

Yesturday was Kevin's birthday. Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

I haven't been very good about updating this frequently but our computer has been acting up and these posts seem so uncolourful without a picture or two to go in them. Oh well, maybe I'll be able to add some later.

It's been a busy time for us lately. I just got back from a wonderful vacation with my cousin. We went down to Salt Lake to visit our Aunt and Uncle whom we don't get to see very often. It was lots of fun but I sure missed Kevin while I was away. It was a good opportunity to spend some quality girl time with my cousin and my aunt (we did a LOT of shopping) and I got some great deals on some maternity clothes down there. When we weren't shopping my uncle made sure we were entertained by taking us to some sporting events. We got to see the Jazz whip some butt in a playoff game, which was really cool.

Things with the baby seem to be going well, although he or she isn't saying much yet, so it's hard to ask ;-). I had the big pre-natal apointment just before I went on my trip and the dr. had no trouble finding the little heartbeat with the doppler. It was really neat to hear the swooshing sounds. Now I'm @ 14.5 weeks and looking forward to being sent for the big ultrasound in a month or so. Hopefully they will be able to tell us if I'll be using the floral quilt or the safari animal one. We'll be so excited either way but I want to know what kind of cute clothes I can squirrel away if I find them on sale! I'm going to be honest and say I won't be knitting any booties. I already have too many hobbies.

One last exciting morsel of news: We will be buying our own house! We were pre-approved for a mortgage and we will be looking at some places with the realator this week. Hopefully we can find a place we just love and everything will go smoothly so we can move in durring the summer and have everything all set up and ready before our little one arrives.

The First Ultrasound

On Friday we got to go for our first Ultrasound! I tend to have long cycles and so I had been charting to know when I ovulate etc, but even if you bring the chart, dr's somehow never believe anyone would have a cycle different than the text book 28 days. Hence the early ultrasound. That's ok, I was happy to have the opportunity to see that everything was going alright. First let me just say that they tell you to drink WAY too much water! It was absolute torture, especially since they were running 10 minutes behind schedual. In the end the lady doing the ultrasound had me get rid of some so she could get a better picture. All the extra pain was for nothing! It was worth it though. We got to see out little munchkin with a very healthy hearbeat of 160 bpm. Also, the dates I calculated are right so we can expect our little one to arrive in early Nov. People say babies are ugly at that stage but to me he/she was beautiful. We saw the little head and a tiny little bottom and arms and legs and the little heart flickering on the screen. I can't wait until I get to go back for the 18-20 week one where we will get to see more. Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures from that one. I have none to post here this time. One thing's for sure though, I'll be reducing the amount of water I drink for that one!

The Cat's Out of The Bag!

No, not one of our cute kitties, although they ARE immensly interested in paper bags. I mean, the secret's out! We're expecting! I didn't want to post this news until we'd officially told our families since you never know for sure who's really reading these things. I've been feeling pretty good so far aside from several aversions to foods I normally really like, which makes deciding on dinner a bit difficult. I've had very little nausea but brushing my teeth has become a form of self torture since the gag reflex has been, shall we say, improved. We are both so excited and can't wait to meet our little one EDD Nov. 1st. If by some miracle we go early (rare for first pregnancy's, I know) we could actually have a halloween baby. I'll have a built in costume: clueless first time parent, the sacriest thing in the world! LOL. Kevin's sure we're having a girl but I don't have a strong feeling either way yet. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. My little sister is a little hyper about it all. She keeps rubbing my belly. If she keeps it up I might have to chop off her touchy feely little hands (j/k). Nah, that's just the hormones talking. Now give me some ice cream!!!

Too many hobbies

I've come to the conclusion that I have too many hobbies and interests. I quilt, I scrapbook, I cross stitch, I do some water colour painting, I'm trying to learn to crochet and knit and I've done some beading. I've basically dabbled in every kind of craft imaginable! On top of that I love to read and sing and I play a very little bit of piano and I enjoy baking. I also really enjoy taking photographs and I wouldn't mind learning some more techniques. Will the madness ever end?? Will I ever focus on ONE hobby at a time? or will I continue to do a little of everything and never get really good at any one in particular? I'm inclined to think it will be the latter since I just enjoy so many different things so darn much I would hate to give any of them up. Plus I'm a bit fickle when it comes to crafts. One day I'll totally be into my painting or cross stitching and the next I won't feel like doing those at all and would rather be quilting or crocheting. Maybe later I'll post some pictures of my many adventures in arts and crafts. And after I take the pictures and turn them into a video slideshow I'll print them out and scrapbook them! Oie!

President Gordon B. Hinckley receives his honourable release

Well Sunday evening we found out that our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley had passed away at about 7 pm. Although we will really miss him I can't really be sad. After having done so much for so many people, at the age of 97 it was his turn to rest from care and sorrow. I have no doubt that he was anxious to see his beloved wife again. It will still be strange for me not to see his familiar, happy, loving face at the next General Conference. He was, after all the prophet durring my YW days. I will never forget being present for the broadcest when he gave his wonderful "Be" talk:

1. Be grateful.
2. Be smart.
3. Be clean.
4. Be true.
5. Be humble.
6. Be prayerful.

Although we will miss President Hinckley, I know our next prophet will be just as true and just as inspired. The head of the Church, our Saviour Jesus Christ, would not have it any other way.

Girl Guide Cookies

Yesturday Kevin bought a box of girl guide cookies from a school friend that is a Girl Guide leader of some sort. We were terribly dissappointed to find that these mint things were the only kind she had! Boo!

Why oh why did they ever add these? They aren't "real" girl guide cookies! When I was a wee brownie the sandwich kind were the only ones we sold, and everyone loved them and were happy. Now THESE are Girl Guide Cookies:
That's the end of my cookie rant for today. Hopefully we'll be able to get the sandwich kind next time.

Weighing Cats

We have had two cats for about a year and a half now. Today I decided that they should probably be weighed. Have you ever tried to weigh a cat on a typical digital bathroom scale? They'll sit on it for long periods of time quite happily as long as it's not turned on, but the second it's on... good luck!

In the end I decided to just weigh myself and then hold each cat while I weighed myself again, then subtract the difference. Luckily even Kita will allow me (and only me) to pick her up. Just about anyone could have used this method with Tobi who's rather indescriminant with her affections. Amazingly they are both 6.6 lbs, which is surprising since Tobi's such a pig I was almost sure she was eating 75% of their food plus any people food she can get her fuzzy little paws on (Chocolate, granola bars, potato chips, icheban, PINEAPPLE bits of all things! What kind of cat enjoys granola bars and pineapple?) Anyway, here they are. Kita's the black one and Tobi's the spotted one. They're so cute that it's hard to stay mad at them even when they do eat my favourite granola bars.

Christmas and New Years

Well a brand new year has begun. I'm looking forward to all the possibilities it holds for us. It can really only improve on last year anyway. I won't bore you with the details but 2007 wasn't exactly an easy year for our family. I suppose that's how we learn the most though.

We had a good Christmas this year. We stayed in town and were completely spoiled by both Kevin's parents and mine but I was still sad I didn't get to go down to Cardston, Glenwood and Magrath and see all the family down there. Luckily we still got 2 turkey dinners with family. Yum! I don't think I'll ever get tired of turkey dinners, it's my favourite meal. I wish we had the leftovers...

We were in the Nativity pageant at Heritage park again this year. It was a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone who has the chance to do it. We even got our picture on the front page of the Calgary Sun Christmas Eve! We feel so famous! I'll try to post it later if I can find it.

New years wasn't too exciting this year. We watched a movie with my parents, worked on a puzzle and drank sparkling apple juice at midnight. I even had to have a nap so I could make it to midnight. How sad is that! The most exciting thing was dinner at Swiss Chalet with Matt complaining the whole time because he was missing the hockey game. Poor guy was forced to be in our company and miss the first two periods.

Here is that picture I promised to post: